Nah... the Zepp is too big! I don't have anything to string up a 1/2 wavelength vertical. My 1/4 wave ground plane is all self-contained and needs only a surface to set it on.
New to the base station stuff only used plug and play mobile equipment. Love your video and your build is absolutely beautiful!!! Can you explain the matching network part and maybe a build spec? I'd love to try and build something similar. Last question - if the antenna were mounted up higher wouldn't you be better off? Thanks; Shawn Seattle WA
@@TelstarElectronics what kind of impedance were you getting before the match, with the radials laid out flat like that? the 3'x3' aluminum bit- was that based on a calculation/some part of a wavelength? thanks- very interesting build
The impedance without the matching network was about 1.6:1. The 3'x3' aluminum plate was not based on any calculation... but more on mechanical and wind stability. I can tell you that it has survived a storm with 100mph gusts! Since it's only about 1/4" off the ground, the wind is not able to get under the aluminum plate enough to be an issue. I've been using this antenna for many months now... and it's surpassed my expectations for performance.
Yes, this home-made unit works great... makes no modifications to my house, and is very portable. The resonant match realized with the matching network inside the box gets this aerial to 1.1:1. It may not look like much, but the skip performance is awesome.
Hello, What type of material was used for the L-Matching Network? That is an amazing setup, it would be great for my HOA. Thank you
It's just an L-match... using #12 solid copper wire and a mica capacitor.
Magnet wire air coil & ceramic capacitor used for L-match...
Nice. I need something like that so I don't have a big intrusive tower in my neighborhood. Someday I'd like to set up a base at my house
Exactly right... I wanted a semi-portable antenna with some good gain... that I didn't have to mount on the house.
Nah... the Zepp is too big! I don't have anything to string up a 1/2 wavelength vertical. My 1/4 wave ground plane is all self-contained and needs only a surface to set it on.
New to the base station stuff only used plug and play mobile equipment. Love your video and your build is absolutely beautiful!!! Can you explain the matching network part and maybe a build spec? I'd love to try and build something similar. Last question - if the antenna were mounted up higher wouldn't you be better off?
Thanks;
Shawn Seattle WA
I use the antenna mostly for skip... so antenna height is not important. As for the matching network... a simple L-match.
@@TelstarElectronics what kind of impedance were you getting before the match, with the radials laid out flat like that? the 3'x3' aluminum bit- was that based on a calculation/some part of a wavelength? thanks- very interesting build
The impedance without the matching network was about 1.6:1. The 3'x3' aluminum plate was not based on any calculation... but more on mechanical and wind stability. I can tell you that it has survived a storm with 100mph gusts! Since it's only about 1/4" off the ground, the wind is not able to get under the aluminum plate enough to be an issue. I've been using this antenna for many months now... and it's surpassed my expectations for performance.
nice antenna. cb skip = fun
Yes, this home-made unit works great... makes no modifications to my house, and is very portable. The resonant match realized with the matching network inside the box gets this aerial to 1.1:1. It may not look like much, but the skip performance is awesome.
how is swr?
There's a matching network inside the box. The match is 1.1:1